Helen Smythe Jaffray


Helen Smythe Jaffray was an American socialite during the Gilded Age.

Early life

Helen was born on November 4, 1850 in New York City. She was one of the "three handsome Smythe girls" born to Henry A. Smythe and Mary Smythe. Her father, a merchant, banker and conservative Union Republican, was a Collector of Customs in New York from 1866 to 1869 under President Andrew Johnson, who is most well known for his impeachment in March 1867, following accusations of corruption. He was later nominated for the position of U.S. Ambassador to Russia by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1869, but was tabled by the Senate and did not receive his commission. Helen's sister Fannie Smythe, was the second wife of Edward Padelford, who had a home, in Skaneateles, New York.

Society life

In 1892, both Helen and her daughter were listed as "Mrs. William Jaffray" and "Miss Jaffray", in Ward McAllister's "Four Hundred", purported to be an index of New York's best families, published in The New York Times. Conveniently, 400 was the number of people that could fit into Mrs. Astor's ballroom.

Personal life

In 1871, Helen was married to William Phillips Jaffray, a successful New York dry goods merchant. William was the eldest son of Edward Somerville Jaffray and an uncle to Florence Jafffray, who served as U.S. Minister to Norway and was the wife of J. Borden Harriman. Florence was raised by William's parents, at 615 Fifth Avenue, as her parents both died young. Together, they were the parents of:
Her husband died in Astoria in September 1877 and his funeral was held at the Church of the Transfiguration. Jaffray died on July 11, 1932 in Paris, France where she lived at 27 rue de Longchamp. She was buried in the family vault at the Saint-Germain-en-Laye Cemetery.